May 26, 2016 Page 1 of 18

Clips

(May 26, 2016)

May 26, 2016 Page 2 of 18

Today’s Clips Contents

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels starter Hector Santiago unable to shine

Nomar Mazara hits long home run and Rangers beat Angels, 15-9

FROM THE OC REGISTER (Page 6)

Hector Santiago makes another early exit as Angels get clubbed by Rangers, 15-9

Angels' C.J. Wilson begins rehab assignment with four-plus innings for Inland Empire 66ers

Mike Scioscia was prepared to use shortstop Brendan Ryan to pitch in blowout loss to Rangers

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 10)

Angels drop rubber match in slugfest vs. Rangers

Scioscia has Ryan warm up in 'pen in loss

Skaggs set for sim game after 3rd 'pen session

Angels call up Cowart, designate Luetge

Shoemaker set for season-series opener vs. Astros

FROM THE ASSSOCIATED PRESS (Page 16)

Pujols hits 569th homer, Angels beat Rangers 2-0

May 26, 2016 Page 3 of 18

FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels starter Hector Santiago unable to shine

Bill Shaikin

This should be Hector Santiago’s time to shine. With ace Garrett Richards among a quartet of injured Angels starting pitchers, the team could use a veteran leader, an arm that could reliably last into the seventh inning and relieve the burden on a weary bullpen.

On Wednesday, for the second consecutive start, Santiago failed to last even three innings. He was ejected in his previous start, yanked in this one.

Santiago’s performance Wednesday was particularly discouraging, since the Angels handed him a 4-1 lead.

“That’s just not a good effort from Hector,” Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He really struggled with everything.”

The Angels had scored three runs in the first two games of the series, but they scored four in their first two at-bats Wednesday. The Texas Rangers got two runs back before Santiago got an out in the bottom of the second inning, tied the score before the inning was done, and took the lead for good when he was done in the third inning.

“You were there, right? You saw it,” Santiago said. “Just an all-around bad day.”

Santiago lasted at least six innings in each of his first four starts. He has done so once in his six subsequent starts, with a 6.35 earned-run average in that span.

He made the All-Star team last season, with a 2.33 ERA in the first half. In 25 starts since then, he has six victories, with a 5.09 ERA.

If he cannot reverse that trend, he might not be valuable enough for the Angels to trade him for a good prospect should they fall out of contention, or for the Angels to keep him next season by tendering him a contract that would include a raise from his $5-million salary.

Skaggs on his way back

Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs could resume pitching in the minor leagues as soon as this weekend, a significant step toward what would be his first major league appearance since July 31, 2014.

Skaggs had Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter and spent all of last season rehabilitating his left elbow. He opened this season at triple-A Salt Lake, but he has not pitched since April 20 because of what the Angels called soreness in his left biceps.

Scioscia said Skaggs would throw a bullpen session Wednesday and could rejoin Salt Lake as soon as this weekend.

May 26, 2016 Page 4 of 18

Two weeks ago, the Angels were so strapped for pitching that General Manager Billy Eppler had to trade for journeyman Jhoulys Chacin just to complete the starting rotation.

Now the Angels have a depth chart. C.J. Wilson is scheduled to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment at Class A Inland Empire on Wednesday, and Tim Lincecum could report to Salt Lake next week. That could make Wilson and Lincecum options to join the Angels’ rotation in mid-June, and Skaggs could be available shortly thereafter.

Richards and Andrew Heaney are trying therapy designed to heal an ailing elbow without Tommy John surgery. If the therapy succeeds, Richards and/or Heaney could be available after the All-Star break. If the surgery is required, the pitcher would likely be out until the start of the 2018 season.

Short hops

Left fielder Rafael Ortega hit his first major league home run. He also threw out a runner at home plate, the fifth assist for Ortega in his 21 games this season. He ranks second in the American League in outfield assists, behind Adam Eaton of the Chicago White Sox. Eaton has seven assists, in 46 games. … The Angels recalled infielder Kaleb Cowart and designated left-handed reliever Lucas Luetge for assignment. Luetge was with the Angels for three days but did not appear in a game.

Nomar Mazara hits long home run and Rangers beat Angels, 15-9

Bill Shaikin

On one side of the clubhouse, Jered Weaver shot a bemused glance at Brendan Ryan, who was

surrounded by reporters after a game in which he did not play. On another side, Hector

Santiago glared at the question of whether he might be pitching injured.

The question was uncomfortable, and not just coming from a reporter. Santiago said he had

heard it from Manager Mike Scioscia after his poor outing Wednesday.

“Nothing is wrong with my health,” Santiago said. “That’s been a question three or four times

already. It’s kind of getting annoying.”

Texas Rangers Elvis Andrus, right, slides into home plate scoring against Angels catcher Jett Bandy during the sixth inning Wednesday. (LM Otero / AP)

The Angels’ 15-9 loss to the Texas Rangers could have ended on a lighter note. In his 17 years as

Angels manager, Scioscia never has used a position player to pitch.

In the seventh inning, with the Angels down seven runs and their bullpen exhausted, Scioscia

asked Ryan, the veteran shortstop, if he ever had pitched.

May 26, 2016 Page 5 of 18

Ryan said yes.

“He didn’t ask what my stats were,” Ryan said. “I would have been happy to share them.”

Ryan has pitched once, two scoreless innings last year for the New York Yankees. So he headed

to the Angels bullpen and warmed up.

If the Angels had not scored in the eighth inning, Ryan would have become the first position

player to pitch for the Angels since 1993, when Chili Davis threw two scoreless innings.

But the Angels scored three runs in the eighth, so reliever Jose Alvarez remained in the game

and gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Angels gave up a season-high 15 runs,

and there would be no lighter side.

There certainly was no lighter side to Scioscia’s face when the Angels came off the field after

the sixth inning. The Rangers batted around in the inning, which included a bases-loaded walk

by Greg Mahle, a bobble and a bad throw on the same ground ball by first baseman C.J. Cron,

and an error by left fielder Rafael Ortega, who could not commit to throwing to second base or

third and ended up launching a throw that skipped by the catcher.

“Sloppy,” Scioscia said. “It’s an inning that just got away from us.”

Santiago did not survive the third inning, even though the Angels gave him a 4-1 lead in the

second inning. Scioscia said he could not explain Santiago’s struggles.

“He just wasn’t aggressive with anything,” Scioscia said. “He really didn’t have his stuff. I talked

to him after the game to make sure he was healthy. He said he was fine.”

Oh, and Rangers rookie Nomar Mazara hit a home run estimated at 491 feet, the longest in the

major leagues this year. The Angels used five pitchers, all of whom were scored upon. They tied

a season high with 15 hits, none by Mike Trout or Albert Pujols, and still lost by six runs.

The time seemed ripe for a team meeting after the game. Scioscia did not do so.

“Let me tell you one thing about these guys,” he said. “They feel it. They’re playing hard. No

matter what we’ve been presented with, they’ve been finding ways to give us chances to win

games.

“This one was a little sloppy. These guys know it. They feel it. They’ve been fine.”

Ryan said he felt fine in the bullpen, even though he did not get to pitch.

“Cutter was moving,” he said. “Changeup was working. I got the King Felix grip. He taught me.”

If he had pitched, the Angels could have managed a small smile on the way to the airport.

“You hope that, if it does unfortunately come to that,” Ryan said, “it sucks to get your butt

kicked, but maybe we can have a laugh about this on the plane ride. You don’t want to be out

May 26, 2016 Page 6 of 18

there laughing and giggling and having a ball. I think that’s a slap in your face to your

teammates.”

And then Ryan realized the statistics that Scioscia had not asked about had remained intact.

“I survived today with a 0.00 ERA,” Ryan said. “I’ll take that. I can say that because it’s

ridiculous.”

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Hector Santiago makes another early exit as Angels get clubbed by Rangers, 15-9

By JOEY KAUFMAN / STAFF WRITER

ARLINGTON, Texas – Not even for a second did the ball appear headed anywhere else.

In the bottom of the second inning, Texas Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara smoked an 83 mph cutter left inside by Hector Santiago deep into the upper deck in right field at Globe Life Park.

MLB Statcast data measured the solo home run at 491 feet, the farthest of any in baseball this season.

There was no shortage of offense Wednesday afternoon, as the Rangers defeated the Angels, 15-9 and dropped them to 21-26. The teams combined for 32 hits, but it was Texas that provided more fireworks. Six of the nine starters in the Rangers’ lineup had at least two hits and all but Prince Fielder had at least one.

The Angels have lost consecutive games after a run of eight wins in 11 games. The Rangers’ 15 runs were the most the Angels have allowed all season.

“Let me tell you one thing about these guys,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “They feel it. They’re playing hard. And no matter what we’ve been presented with, they’ve been finding ways to give us chances to win games. This one was a little sloppy. But these guys know it. They feel it. They’re going to be fine.”

The Angels were forced to use four relief pitchers, burdening an already taxed bullpen. At one point, they even sent Brendan Ryan, a 34-year-old shortstop acquired in a trade with Atlanta earlier this month, out to warm up.

Their starter, Santiago, did not make it through the third inning for his second straight start.

On Friday, Santiago was ejected after arguing balls and strikes with the plate umpire. He had allowed four runs on three home runs and recorded eight outs when he left that game.

May 26, 2016 Page 7 of 18

Five days later, he recorded seven outs before Scioscia pulled him after 57 pitches. The left-hander had allowed six runs on five hits.

“That’s just not a good effort with Hector,” Scioscia said. “He really struggled with everything. He wasn’t aggressive with anything, didn’t really have his stuff.”

It was not injury-related. Santiago (3-3) told Scioscia he felt fine.

“Nothing’s wrong with my health,” he said. “I know it’s been a question three or four times already (this season). It’s kind of getting annoying a little. It’s nothing with my health.”

His velocity did dip, as he leaned heavily on a sinker that averaged 91 mph instead of his fastball.

He felt he was trying to be too precise.

“I’m a stuff guy, I’m not a finesse pitcher,” Santiago said. “I’m not going to spot up, and that’s what I’m trying to do now, putting myself in situations I don’t need to be in. I fell behind in counts. You got to turn it around at some point.”

The Angels scored four runs in their first two innings, including a three-run second, against Rangers starter Colby Lewis (4-0), who had allowed four runs or more just once in his first nine starts.

“It’s pretty tough on a pitcher and pretty tough on our team all the way around. It seems like we’re rolling,” Santiago said. “We scored in two consecutive innings. But I kind of slowed it down and put it the other way.”

Jett Bandy, who was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI, hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth that brought the Angels to within one run.

But the Rangers scored six runs in the next two innings to push their lead to 13-6.

Rafael Ortega hit his first career homer, a three-run shot in the eighth for the Angels.

Angels' C.J. Wilson begins rehab assignment with four-plus innings for Inland

Empire 66ers

By PETE MARSHALL / STAFF WRITER

SAN BERNARDINO – It had been nearly 10 months since Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson had pitched in a competitive game, so you’ll have to forgive him if he had some conflicting emotions Wednesday, the first game of his rehabilitation assignment with the Inland Empire 66ers.

“Emotionally, it was kind of a little bit of a butterfly situation at about 6 o’clock today,” Wilson said. “Prior to that, I was amped. ‘Let’s start this game, I’m ready.’ Then all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Oh my God, the game is going to start.’”

May 26, 2016 Page 8 of 18

Once Wilson got rid of those butterflies, he pitched well.

Wilson, who has been on the disabled list all season with a left shoulder injury, threw 56 pitches (35 strikes) in four-plus innings, allowing five hits and one run with four strikeouts and no walks. Two of the hits and the run came in a 23-pitch first inning. At times, his fastball touched 90 mph.

He is not sure if his next start will be with Inland Empire, or if it will be with Triple-A Salt Lake.

“I know eventually they want me to face Triple-A guys,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he felt comfortable with his pitches.

“My No.1 goal, was to be able to go to any pitch,” he said. “And not say, ‘I don’t want to throw the slider. I don’t want to throw the changeup.’ Just to be like, ‘I’m going to throw the changeup right here, because that’s the right pitch.’ Instead of saying, ‘I can’t throw that pitch.’

“I feel like where I am mechanically, I’m really able to put the ball where I want to. At least in a quadrant of the strike zone.”

Wilson originally hoped to return in time to pitch in the Angels’ June 3-5 interleague series at Pittsburgh “because I like to hit,” but he now realizes that’s unlikely. He is still hoping to return “in the first two weeks of June.”

“I still feel like I have a long way to go,” he said. “To be the pitcher I want to be.”

Wilson said he had floated the idea that he might initially return in a relief role, but the Angels rejected that idea.

Infielder Cliff Pennington, in his first game of a rehab assignment as he recovers from a hamstring strain, played shortstop and went 1 for 3 with a triple.

Mike Scioscia was prepared to use shortstop Brendan Ryan to pitch in blowout loss to Rangers

By JOEY KAUFMAN / STAFF WRITER

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Angels nearly tried something Wednesday that Mike Scioscia had never done in 17 seasons as manager.

Had Rafael Ortega not hit a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, trimming the Angels’ deficit against the Texas Rangers to four runs, a position player would have pitched in the bottom half.

The last time the Angels used a position player on the mound was June 17, 1993, when outfielder Chili Davis did it.

“I don’t think you try to avoid it,” Scioscia said. “It’s something that’s never presented itself to us. It did today.”

May 26, 2016 Page 9 of 18

Scioscia asked veteran shortstop Brendan Ryan to start warming up to start the eighth.

“I was like, ‘Heh, yeah.’” Ryan said. “He didn’t ask my stats, but I would’ve been happy to share them.”

Ryan has pitched before in a similar situation when a manager might prefer to save his bullpen’s arms. He threw two scoreless innings for the New York Yankees in a 15-1 blowout loss last season.

“In New York that day, I was really trying to bottle up my excitement, because it certainly was a bucket list moment,” he said.

He tried to stay even-keeled in Wednesday’s 15-9 loss to the Rangers.

“It (stinks) to get your butt kicked, but maybe we can have a laugh about this on the plane,” he said. “You just don’t want to be out there, laughing, giggling and having a ball. I mean, that’s a slap in the face to your teammates. These guys are trying to get outs, and it’s not happening. It’s just one of those days.”

Davis’ appearance as a pitcher came in an 18-2 loss to Texas. He tossed two scoreless innings.

MILESTONE HOMER

Ortega’s three-run home run to center field was the first of his career, coming in his 84th at-bat.

“It was a good feeling,” the outfielder said.

To retrieve the ball from a fan, Ortega exchanged an autographed bat.

He is batting .275 this season with a .318 on-base percentage and .338 slugging percentage, seeing more time with Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry on the disabled list. He also has nine RBI.

Ortega also had a throw in the third inning that was successful in helping catcher Jett Bandy tag Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland out at home plate. It was his fifth outfield assist this season.

SKAGGS BACK ON MOUND

Tyler Skaggs was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, his first time throwing on a mound since recovering from biceps tendinitis, Scioscia said.

If all goes well, the left-hander could pitch in a minor league game this weekend.

Skaggs, who has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, last pitched at Triple-A Salt Lake on April 20. He threw 67 pitches over 32/3 innings in that start, not a workload he is likely to approach when he starts throwing again.

He last pitched with the Angels in 2014 before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament.

ALSO

Bandy left the game in the eighth inning with a cramp in his hamstring, but is not expected to miss any time. “He’ll be fine, probably just it was hot,” Scioscia said. “He probably squatted for a solid two hours, because we played defense a lot.” ... The Angels are back to using a seven-

May 26, 2016 Page 10 of 18

man bullpen after they designated left-hander Lucas Luetge for assignment. In his place, they called up third baseman Kaleb Cowart from Triple-A Salt Lake. He was available as a pinch hitter. … Cliff Pennington (hamstring) and C.J. Wilson (shoulder) had rehab assignments Wednesday night at Class-A Inland Empire. It was Pennington’s second start start at shortstop.

FROM ANGELS.COM

Angels drop rubber match in slugfest vs. Rangers

By T.R. Sullivan and Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Sparked by Nomar Mazara's epic home run and big production from the lower half of the order, the Rangers outlasted the Angels, 15-9 on Wednesday afternoon. The Rangers have won five of their last six, including two of three from the Angels.

Mazara, hitting in the No. 5 spot, had the memorable blast of the afternoon with his home run to lead off the second inning. But the bottom four hitters in the lineup -- Ryan Rua, Mitch Moreland, Elvis Andrus and Bobby Wilson -- were a combined 10-for-16 with eight runs scored and five runs batted in. Wilson had four hits, a career high for him and the most by a Rangers player this season.

"Pretty solid all the way through today," Moreland said. "A lot of guys on base, we created a lot of opportunities. We talked about that the last couple of days -- create more opportunities and get guys on base. … We were able to do that today."

Colby Lewis picked up the win despite allowing six runs in five innings. Angels starter Hector Santiago also allowed six runs, but was knocked out in the third inning.

The Angels cut their deficit to four on an eighth-inning three-run homer by Rafael Ortega, the first of his career, and had the tying run on deck when Mike Trout came up with two on and two outs later that inning. But Trout flied out, and the Rangers tacked on two more runs in the bottom half to pull away.

"That happens sometimes -- you have tough games like that," Ortega said. "We have to keep going. We have to keep our heads up and keep going."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Mazara crushes home run: Mazara hit a home run off Santiago that landed in the upper deck. According to Statcast™, the projected distance was 491 feet, the longest home run hit in the Major Leagues this season.

"That was loud," Wilson said. "You need earplugs for that one."

May 26, 2016 Page 11 of 18

Another quick exit: Santiago was ejected by home-plate umpire John Tumpane after recording only eight outs on Friday, and he was pulled by Angels manager Mike Scioscia after recording only seven outs on Wednesday. Spotted a 1-0 lead in the first and a 4-1 lead in the second, Santiago proceeded to give up five hits and issue two walks, ultimately getting charged with six runs (five earned). His ERA has jumped from 3.42 to 4.58 over his last two starts.

"I just kind of fell apart," Santiago said. "I didn't have my good stuff today. Seeing-eye singles fell through, and [it was] just an all-around bad day. I was falling behind in counts, not making some great pitches. It just didn't go our way."

Barnette shuts off rally: The Angels, trailing 7-5, loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth on three straight singles from C.J. Cron and Johnny Giavotella off Lewis, and Ortega off of Alex Claudio. Right-handed reliever Tony Barnette then took over. He gave up a sacrifice fly to Jett Bandy to score one run, but then got out of the inning by getting Gregorio Petit on a fly to right and Yunel Escobar on a grounder.

"That was huge … probably the biggest part of the game," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.

Sloppy, sloppy: Bandy threw high on an attempted steal in the first, allowing Rougned Odor to take third and score on a groundout. In the sixth, first baseman Cron bobbled a sharp grounder and threw wide of home. Two batters later, lefty reliever Greg Mahle issued a bases-loaded walk to the left-handed-hitting Prince Fielder, who entered play with a .198 batting average. The next inning, Mahle hit Odor on an 0-2 pitch, setting the stage for Adrian Beltre's two-out, two-run single.

"Let me tell you one thing about these guys -- these guys, they feel it," said Scioscia, who had shortstop Brendan Ryan warming up in the bullpen in the eighth, coming close to using a position player to pitch for the first time ever. "They're playing hard. No matter what we've been presented with, they've been finding ways to give us chances to win games. This one was a little sloppy, but these guys know it, they feel it, they're going to be fine." More >

QUOTABLE "I think it was in the seventh. He was like, 'Hey, have you pitched before?' I was like, 'Heh. Yeah.' He didn't ask me my stats, but I would've been happy to share them." -- Ryan, who pitched two scoreless innings for the Yankees last season, on his late-game exchange with Scioscia

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Ian Desmond had 10 putouts in center field for the Rangers. That's the most for a Rangers outfielder in a nine-inning game in club history.

Ortega, who has taken over as the Angels' left fielder, fielded a clean single from Wilson and nailed Moreland at home with a perfect one-hop throw to end the third inning. It was his fifth outfield assist this season, tied for the second-most among American League outfielders even though Ortega was only making his 21st start. Ortega later made an errant throw in the sixth, but no additional runs scored.

INJURY REPORT Bandy's hamstring cramped up while lacing a line-drive single in the eighth inning, prompting

May 26, 2016 Page 12 of 18

him to be taken out of the game and replaced by the Angels' primary catcher, Carlos Perez. Scioscia said Bandy shouldn't need any time off. The Angels already have 10 players on the disabled list, including Geovany Soto, who is recovering from surgery to his right knee and will not return until the middle of June, at the earliest.

WHAT'S NEXT Angels: The Angels are off on Thursday, then host a three-game weekend series against the division-rival Astros, with Friday's first pitch from Angel Stadium set for 7:05 p.m. PT. Matt Shoemaker (2-5, 6.81 ERA) will face fellow right-hander Mike Fiers (3-2, 4.35 ERA).

Rangers: The Rangers open a three-game series against the Pirates at 7:05 p.m. CT Friday at Globe Life Park. Left-hander Cole Hamels, who has won 12 straight decisions, is pitching for the Rangers.

Scioscia has Ryan warm up in 'pen in loss

Infielder would have been first position player to pitch for Angels' manager

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- It was the seventh inning at Globe Life Park on Wednesday afternoon, and the Angels were getting blown out. Their starting pitcher had recorded only seven outs, their bullpen was taxed, and their chance at a comeback had essentially evaporated. So Angels manager Mike Scioscia turned to one of his infielders, Brendan Ryan, and asked the question he dreads:

"You ever pitch?"

"I was like, 'Heh, yeah,'" Ryan recalled after an eventual 15-9 loss to the Rangers. "He didn't ask me my stats, but I would've been happy to share them."

Ryan -- who pitched two scoreless innings for the Yankees last year, thank you very much -- took the long walk to the left-center-field bullpen and began to warm up, coming closer than any position player ever has to pitching for a Scioscia-led team.

"Cutter was moving," Ryan said, "changeup was working."

If the Angels had been held scoreless in the top of the eighth, Ryan would've pitched the bottom half, becoming the first position player to pitch for the Angels since current Red Sox hitting coach Chili Davis on June 17, 1993, seven years before Scioscia took over.

But Rafael Ortega blasted a three-run homer -- the first of his career -- to cut the Angels' deficit to four, just reasonable enough for an actual pitcher like Jose Alvarez to come back out for the eighth and deprive Ryan of another "bucket-list moment."

It would've brought some levity to an otherwise dispiriting series finale.

May 26, 2016 Page 13 of 18

The Angels gave Hector Santiago a 1-0 lead in the first and a 4-1 lead in the second, and the erratic left-hander could not hold it. He gave up a 491-foot home run to Nomar Mazara -- the longest in the Majors this season, according to Statcast™ -- and was ultimately charged with six runs (five earned) on five hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings, five days after getting ejected after 2 2/3 innings.

"I just kind of fell apart," Santiago said, his ERA jumping from 3.42 to 4.58 over his last two starts. "I didn't have my good stuff today."

Scioscia felt Santiago "wasn't aggressive with anything" and spoke to him after the game, "just to make sure he was healthy, and he says he feels fine."

"Nothing's wrong with my health," Santiago said, responding to a reporter's query. "I know I've answered that question three or four times already. It's kind of getting annoying a little bit with health. It's nothing about health. It's more trying to make pitches, be in the zone, and trying to be under control and not thinking too much, trying to be perfect."

The Angels were anything but.

In the first, rookie catcher Jett Bandy threw high to second base on an attempted steal, allowing Rougned Odor to take third and promptly score on a groundout. In a four-run, game-changing sixth, C.J. Cron bobbled a sharp grounder and threw wide of home, allowing a run to score, and Ortega made a poor throw to the infield, allowing both runners to advance an extra base.

Scioscia was uncommonly livid when the half-inning ended.

He softened postgame.

"Let me tell you one thing about these guys -- these guys, they feel it," Scioscia said, his club now 21-26 after losing two of three in Arlington. "They're playing hard. No matter what we've been presented with, they've been finding ways to give us chances to win games. This one was a little sloppy, but these guys know it, they feel it, they're going to be fine."

The Angels' bullpen had a chance to keep the Angels in the game, but the unit didn't deliver. Mike Morin relieved Santiago in the third and allowed three additional runs to score, two of them inherited baserunners from Santiago. Deolis Guerra, Greg Mahle and Alvarez then gave up a combined eight runs on 10 hits over a five-inning stretch, pushing the Angels back every time the offense rallied.

Part of Ryan hoped that pitching the eighth could, if nothing else, lighten the mood.

"It [stinks] to get your butt kicked," Ryan said, "but maybe we can have a laugh about this on the plane ride? I don't know. You just don't want to be out there laughing and giggling, having a ball. I think that's a slap in the face to your teammates. These guys are all out there trying to get outs and it's not happening. It's just one of those days. Whether they're hitting balls in the gaps or finding seats or just blooping stuff in, these games happen."

May 26, 2016 Page 14 of 18

Skaggs set for sim game after 3rd 'pen session

Left-hander, who underwent TJ surgery in '14, is recovering from biceps tendinitis

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- Tyler Skaggs, a little more than a month removed from appearing in a game because of a brief bout with biceps tendinitis, is throwing off a mound again.

The 24-year-old left-hander completed his third bullpen session on Wednesday, and he is getting set to pitch in a simulated game in Arizona on Saturday. Skaggs said via text that his arm "feels great, with no restrictions."

The Angels can suddenly look forward to some much-needed starting-pitching depth.

C.J. Wilson is slated to make his first rehab start for Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Wednesday night and is hoping to return by late next week. Tim Lincecum will also throw a simulated game on Saturday and lines up to make his first rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake on June 2 or 3.

And the Angels' five current starters -- Jered Weaver, Hector Santiago, Nick Tropeano, Matt Shoemaker and Jhoulys Chacin -- entered Wednesday with a 2.91 ERA since May 14, the fourth-best mark in the Majors during that time.

Skaggs underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2014 and appeared in five games, two of them during Spring Training, before getting shut down. Angels general manager Billy Eppler said the team is "happy with where he's at right now."

But Skaggs still has a handful of steps to clear, some of them for the second time.

"I don't know if we're knocked back to ground zero," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, "but he was ready to take that four- to five-inning jump, and he's going to have to start off slower than that, obviously."

Angels call up Cowart, designate Luetge

Second baseman flashes glove skills in 3 straight games

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- The Angels called up third baseman Kaleb Cowart, a former first-round Draft pick, and designated lefty reliever Lucas Luetge for assignment prior to Wednesday's series finale from Globe Life Park.

The move returns the Angels to a standard seven-man bullpen and gives them a left-handed bat off the bench.

May 26, 2016 Page 15 of 18

Cowart, a switch-hitter taken 18th overall in 2010, was batting .303/.352/.454 for Triple-A Salt Lake and has bounced around the infield, also seeing time at first base, second base and shortstop. MLB Pipeline ranked the 23-year-old the Angels' No. 5 prospect, and he could occasionally spell first baseman C.J. Cron, second baseman Johnny Giavotella and third baseman Yunel Escobar.

The Angels have been getting more length out of their starting pitchers, who rank third in the Major Leagues in innings since May 14, and no longer need an extra arm in the bullpen.

Luetge, 29, was signed to a Minor League contract over the offseason and never made an appearance with the Angels. He posted a 4.35 ERA in 111 appearances with the Mariners over the last four years and had a 2.33 ERA in 15 appearances forSalt Lake this season, holding opposing left-handed hitters to a .531 OPS.

Luetge is the fourth reliever to be taken off the 40-man roster in the last five days, after Danny Reynolds, A.J. Achter and Al Alburquerque, all of whom ultimately cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A.

Shoemaker set for season-series opener vs. Astros

By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com

The Angels and Astros square off for the first time in 2016 on Friday, the start of a three-game weekend series from Angel Stadium.

The Angels have won 14 of their last 19 home games against the Astros, who entered Wednesday 9 1/2 games out of first place in the American League West. The Angels, with 10 players on the disabled list, were 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Mariners.

Matt Shoemaker will take the mound for the series opener, opposite fellow right-hander Mike Fiers.

Shoemaker (2-5, 6.81 ERA) is coming off the best start of his career, one that saw him twirl 7 1/3 scoreless innings against the Orioles, giving up just three hits, walking none and striking out 12. The 29-year-old has a 5.59 ERA in 19 1/3 career innings against the Astros.

Fiers (3-1, 4.65 ERA) has given up two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts and is coming off seven innings of two-run ball against the Rangers in which he gave up six hits, with no walks and six strikeouts. Fiers, 30, allowed six runs in 13 2/3 innings against the Angels last season.

May 26, 2016 Page 16 of 18

Things to know

• Albert Pujols' 50 home runs are the most all-time against the Astros, four more than the second-place Hank Aaron. Entering play on Wednesday, Pujols carried a .954 OPS over a 13-game stretch.

• A rematch between the Rasmus brothers will have to wait. Colby Rasmus continues to play left field for the Astros, but his brother, Angels long reliever Cory Rasmus, is on the disabled list with a groin injury. Colby hit a double against Cory, then with the Braves, in 2013, but the two have not faced off since both have been in the same division the last three years.

• Astros second baseman Jose Altuve has faced Shoemaker the most of any Astros hitter, and has had some success, going 4-for-9 with a double and a home run. Altuve entered Wednesday batting .319/.406/.566.

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pujols hits 569th homer, Angels beat Rangers 2-0

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Like Rougned Odor before him, Nomar Mazara is having an impact for the

Texas Rangers as the youngest player in the major leagues.

Mazara, a 21-year-old rookie slugger, hit the longest home run in the majors this season while

Odor drove in three runs and scored three more in likely his last game before a suspension, a

15-9 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

"Wow, that was a grown-up homer right there," said Bobby Wilson, who had a career-high four

hits. "That's where the big boys go."

Mazara led off the second with a drive into the second deck of the right-seat seats that would

have traveled 491 feet had it landed unimpeded, according to Major League Baseball's Statcast

program. ESPN Stats & Information measured the blast at 453 feet.

"They don't give you extra points for distance, but it was a majestic home run. Happy for the

kid," manager Jeff Banister said.

"It's cool. Hope more to come," said Mazara, who was then asked if it got all of it. "Probably,

yeah."

Odor, who at 20 was the MLB's youngest player when he made his debut two summers ago, is

playing while awaiting the outcome of his appeal heard in New York on Tuesday for an eight-

May 26, 2016 Page 17 of 18

game suspension. The discipline was assessed for punching Toronto slugger Jose Bautista

during a brawl May 15. A decision is expected before Friday night's game.

"He's a huge player for us, a big player us," Banister said. "We're obviously going to miss him

however many days it is, but we like where he's at."

Along with his eighth homer, Mazara had a two-out, two-run single during a four-run sixth that

made it 11-6.

While Mazara's homer is the longest in the majors this season, the Rangers wouldn't verify it as

the longest hit in their 22-year-old ballpark; the Statcast system has been used only since last

season.

Ballpark records list Josh Hamilton's 490-foot homer against Houston on June 27, 2010, as the

longest, a measurement determined by a University of Texas-Arlington physics professor. That

home run also was hit into the upper deck in right field, but higher up and three sections closer

to center field.

The Rangers trailed 1-0 when Odor led off the first with a bunt single, stole second base and

moved up on a throwing error before scoring the first of his three runs. He later drove in runs

with a groundout, a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly.

Los Angeles also led 4-1 after its second at-bat, but Hector Santiago (3-3) also quickly gave up

that lead. It was 4-4 when Texas started the third with consecutive hits off the lefty before Ryan

Rua greeted Mike Morin with a two-run single that put the Rangers ahead to stay.

"It just kind of fell apart. I didn't have good stuff today." Santiago said. "Just an all-around bad

day. I fell behind in counts, not making some great pitches."

GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN

Colby Lewis (4-0) got the win even though he failed to get through six innings for the first time

in 10 starts this season -- the veteran right-hander had gone seven innings his last five games.

Lewis left with a 7-5 lead after giving up consecutive hits starting the sixth, and one of those

runners scored. His season ERA went from 2.75 to 3.38.

QUICK PITCHES

Texas set season highs for runs and hits (18). It was the most runs allowed by the Angels this

season. ... Rangers CF Ian Desmond had 10 putouts, a club record for an outfielder in a nine-

inning game. ... Wilson had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the eighth. His two

homers this season are both grand slams. ... Rafael Ortega's three-run homer in the Angels

eighth was the first of his career. ... Mike Trout, Yunel Escobar and Jett Bandy each had a

sacrifice fly for Los Angeles.

TRAINER'S ROOM

May 26, 2016 Page 18 of 18

Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs, coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2014, threw his third

bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to pitch a simulated game Saturday. Skaggs hasn't

pitched at Triple-A since April after experiencing biceps tendinitis.

Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish threw a bullpen session, three days before his first scheduled start for

the Rangers since August 2014 and after Tommy John surgery. Darvish said the session went

good and that he's very calm right now.

UP NEXT

Angels: Los Angeles opens a three-game series at home against Houston on Friday night.

Rangers: Texas starts a three-game interleague series at home Friday against Pittsburgh. Jeff

Banister spent 29 years in the Pirates organization before becoming the Rangers manager last

season